Improvement in acoustic telegraphs



trice.

IMPROVEMENT IN ACOUSTlC TELEGRAPHS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No- 40,656. dated November 17, 1863.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LANcELor Horn EVER- I'rr, of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a Phonographic Locinanaud, which creates, conveys, and communicates intelligence by meansv of siinila and dissimilar intensities of sound, which, separately and combined, are iliade 'to represent the diiterent letters of the alphabet, the various Arabic'notations, and other valuations, according to certain phonie formulae, each one of which is expressed by one or more symbols engraved on marble, for the use of the deaf and dumb blind, and tinted of various colors for those who can see. f

The marble locmanaud is intended for the use of two deaf and dumb persons, as it stands upon a table between them. The auditor places himself in contact with the one side of the loemanaud, and receives the v symbolic sounds which are evoked by the operator on the opposite side. As the various formulae of letters are sounded by the operatoig'so aretlley conveyed by the locma-naud and received by the auditor, and by him combined into letters, words, and sentences, and thus the conversation begins and progresses until, the operator having finished his talk, he in turn places himselfl in contact with the locmanaud and becomes auditor; and in this way anatomical defection is improved in the most agreeable, instructive, and intelligent manner.

The name of the machine is composed of Greek and Latin words and syllables of words. Ihonographic is composed of Greek words signifying an instrument that communicates intelligence by sounds.- Locmanaud' is composed of three Latin syllables of wordslnamely, loc,7 of ocmas, to speak; mam

ofmmms, the hand; aud, 7 of coalition, to hear. A phonographic locmanaud therefore means a machine that creates, conveys, and communicates intelligent sounds through Lthe hands and speaks to the internal sense of hearing. The acoustic trumpets ofthe outer ear, iinger and thumb tips, and eopperhwires havebeen implied rather than disturb the euphony of the name.

The great facility of acquiring the principles and practices of the phonographic locmanaud must forever recommend this mode of conversing with and conveying intelligence to the deaf and dumb-months, and not eight years, being iii-,most cases all the time necessary to Another important use of the phonographic locmanaud is vin enunciating and conveying sermons from a pulpit to adeaf and dumb audience. This is effected by copper wiresvcentered in the facial incus ofthe battery and diverging fanlike toward the asscmbly-so many members, so many wires-the yends of which Vare held by the index-finger and thumb-tips;

o1', the ends being armed with small metallic nipples, they are inserted into the acoustic trumpet of the external ear. The clergyman evokes the diiferent phonic formulae at the key end of the battery, and the whole audience multaneously receive, hear, arrange, and construc this phonographic language into the NVord of Life; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe nature and construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure No. 2 is a vertical section of the malleus D and tympanum F, and Fig. l" is a perspective view.

The nature of my invention therefore consists in eliminating sounds or phonic units of similar and dissimilar intensities and chimes from the non-metallic atoms ofthe atmospheric I air, and so arranging them as to constitute a phonic formula for each letter of the alphabet, veach notation, and valuation, every-one of which is represented by its own distinguish-v ing symbol. These symbols are sounded by the battery, and are so divided by the silent pauses (diatessarons are intervals divided into four unequal pauses of times and of numbers) of diat-essarons, 7 as I call them, that the same symbolic sound denotes several letters when severally and continuously sounded, for pulpit and parlor purposes are divided into commas, colons, semicolons, and periods, according to a space of time necessary to count one, three, two,l four, respectively.

To enable others skilled in the science of physics to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I construct my phonographic locmauaud in three different ways, so as to operate with it in the following threedifferent forms. v The', onefor parlor purposes may be represented as follows: It is pyramidal in form,having two faces-an anteriorandaposterior--uponwhich the phonc orders and symbols and phonic formulae of letters of the alphabet, Arabic notations,-and valuations are engraved, s othat the deaf and blind, the dumb and blind, may be instructed by it; an'd they are colored of various tints, that they may the more easily be memorized by the deaf and dumb who can see.

There are also two lateral faces, upon one of which is engraved an explanation of the ua` ture of sound and upon the 'other some of the E isa hole drilled in the center of the facia l malleus, called the phonic-fossa. Itregu'- 'lates the phonic units and directs them through v the incus.

F is the tympanum, which generates the various intensities of sound by-striking the facial malleus and phonic fossa upon the facial incus Vfrom various distances therefrom.

G isthe key by means of which the operator strikes off all phonic formulae classed ungder the different orders of sound.

' His the orbicular'.- Itvrecelves'the'various sounds'from the opposite side and inducts them into the nervous vpapillae of the index-uger tips, onefof which must be pressed vupon it by the auditor, whothus receives them from the operator.

l fris the'stap. it is'momted over' the in cus to give strength andsupport 'to the tymf K is a metalli rim, which encircles the edge of the'incu'sandi retains it in its place. The incas-is' composed of solid copper, which, for practicalspur'poses, oughtv to be bell-metal. The malleusfis of iron, the orbicular also, and should be polished. `'Ihetym'panum is of steel; the -4 stapes of copper, with projecting feet screwedfupon the pedestal.

. -L is'the left diatonic staff. yIt has iive bars, from each one ofwhich a'derent order of sound proceeds, and eachl orderis represented by a? different symbol'. lhebars are' placed at dif ferent; distances from lthe, facial incus, and also from oneanother, andV together their ,"sounds express all the Vlettersof .the alphabet.

The first bar, No'.` 1, is placed one-eighth ofan inch' from the facial incus, and vcreates the' vowel order of sounds, M. Its symbol is a circular cavity, O, .painted green. @ne such I It isi madeto'- compress symbol expresses the pl-.onic formula ofthe letter A. Two such symbolsexpress the letter E, and so onto Y, thus:

Symbols. y Sounded. Phonic l formulaof lsucli O A 2 t( l t H' I 4 @ooo v0 5 u u z U 6 f oooooo Y These symbols are sounded 'continuously from the first bar as quick as one, one, two, one, two, three, '&c;, can be counted.

The second bar, No. 2, is placed four-eighths of an inch from the facial incus, and generates the mute order of sounds. N, its symbol, is a solid cube painted yellow. l Onev such symbol expresses the phonic formula o f B, and so on, thus:

Symbols. Soundd. Phonic formula of 1 such l B 2' :L l l I u z C 3 l l l D `(i 5 l l l l l G These symbols are also sounded consecutivelyfrom the second bar as quickly as one,

one two, onetwo three, 8vo., on toffive can'be counted. The greater distance'of 4the bar from the incus gives a more intense strike, and thus creates a new order of sound.

f The third bar, No. 3, is `placed six-eighths of an inch from the facial incus', and produces the semi-sound order of sounds. .0, its symbol, is a hollow cube, n, painted blue.l v One such symbol expresses the letter H, onward to M, thus: Symbols. Sounded. Phonic' formula of 1 such u T H v2 u D D c s J 3 f n n n f .K' 4 "ummm l l; vL1 5 Hummmv M These symbols are also sounded. continuously until the letter intended to be expressed i has been fully sounded...`

The fourth bar,'No. 4,' s placed one inch 4from the facial incus, andincepts the`conso-` nant order of sounds. P, its symbol, is a red disk.` One such-symbol denotesfthe letter N,

onward to lS,tlius:

' Symbols. Sounded.' Phonic formulaof lsuch Y La" N. 2 H v s -H z 3 ooo w Q 4: H i (L L( The fifth bar', No', 5, is plateaoneana @ne- 'fourth'inch from thefa'cial incus, and 'produces .the relativeorder of'sounds. Q, its

' symbol, is the arithmetical multiplier paint ed black. One such symbol sounds'the phonic formula of T, onward to 8L, in this way:

l Symbols. sounded. Phonic formulaof lsuch 2 n XX u 3 l H l 6 H H H H Il Il As in the other instance, so in this, the comma is silent after each symbol forming a letter is sounded; but after the formula of any letter has been completed the silent semicolon must be observed.

In writing out the symbolic language of the phonographic locmanaud, the exponent is placed over the symbol to prevent repetition,

which is so necessary in sounding. Thus X is denoted by i, vT is denoted by 1 and so also ofall other letters. Mexico 7 is written thus: l; (3); and sounded in this Way: El; El: E: E7 D; OJO; 7 7 1 5 O76; O; E, l 5 0,0,0-,O: the silent comma after each symbol, the semicolon after each formula,

fthe colon after each word, and the period follows each sentence.

R is the right diatonic staff. It has four bars, from each one of which a different order of sound is generated, and each order is represented by a different symbol. The bars are placed at different distances from the facial incus and from one another, and, what must always be observed, the bars must be intermediate to those which form the left diatonic staff. Together these four orders of sound ex-V press ciphers, digits, counts, minutes,hours,

dollars, days, months, years, ounces, pints, gallons, inches, yards, miles.

The first bar, No. 1, is placed two-eighths of an inch from the facial incus, and creates the fulcimcn order of sounds. S, its symbol, is

the algebraic x painted black. One such symbol expresses the phonic formula of the ure 1, and so on to 9, in .this way:

Symbols. Sounded. Phonic formula. l x l wx i xxx 0 .maxx f xxxx xm'xxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxmx xxxxxxxxx The symbols are sounded from the first bar, and are governed by the silent comma after each signal is sounded, bythe silent semicolon after each formula, and mounted by their exponents to prevent lrepetition.

The third bar, No. 3, is placed five-Gigbag of an inch from the facial incus, and generates' the semi-fulcimen order of sounds, T. Its symbol -is the geometric spherel O painted black. One such symbolexpresses the phonic formula of the figure 0 onward, in this way:

Symbols. Sounlod. Phonicformula of l such y O l cipher '0. 2 H O O l 2 l 3 l O O O y t 3 l 4 4 'OGO'O 2 4 0000 \5 OOOOO 5 00000 In combining sounds from the first and third bars, U, other orders of fulcimen sounds are produced, so that millions in number may be increased to the mathematical figures used in astronomy, and be quickly and^understand- 'symbol is the astronomie Taurus, 8, painted black. One such symbol expresses the phonic formula of minutes to years, and of cents t'o dollars, in the following manner:

Symbols. Soundcd. Phonic formula of l such 25 2 Minutes. 2 f 8 8 I Cents. 3 8 zj t5 z Hours. 4: 8 8 8 8 -0 Dollars. 5, 88888 I Days. 6 8 8 8 8 8 8 2 Months. 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 l'- Years.

In writing valuations the exponent isvplaced over the symbol, which also is governed by the silent commasv after each sound, and by semicolons after the formula is completed, and in all cases the valorum symbols must always be sounded' beforev the fulcimen, and semi-fulcimen sounds express the amounts.

The fourth bar, .No 4, is placed `seveneighths of an inch from the facial incus, and generates the semi-valorum order of sounds,

-W. Its symbol is the astronomie Venus, 9,

painted black. One such symbol denotes the phonic formula of ounces to pounds, of pints to gallons, of inches to miles:

Symbols. Sounded. Phonic l formula of l such Q Ounces.

2 S? 9 I Pounds. 3 s? se s? rims.

59999999 I 6 S? 9 9 9 9 9 f Yards. 7 Miles.

The same rules govern the semicolon order of soundswhich do the valorumforder as regards the silent'diatessarons andprecedence of enunciation.

The second form of construction relates Vto the phonographic locmanaud intended for the use of clergymen, who operate with it from the deskof the pulpit. The incus is of much larger caliber, so as to admit of a much larger malleus on one face of it, while the other face, opposed to it at the other end, more conveniently receives' the copper cap, in which all the necessary wires are inserted, and which takes the place of one of the mallei, as represented, the acouglottic battery of which is double, having two tympani, two keys, two mallei, two fa,-

cial inci, two stapes, two right diatonic and two left diatonic staves, while the one for clerical purposes has only one facial incus', which is operated on, while the other communicates the various soundsto the copper cap, which conducts them through the wires to the audience. 4It therefore has only one malleus, one tympanum, one stapes, one right and one left diatonic staff, and one key, minus the orbicular.

rIhe length, however, of the incus is to correspond with its diameter.

The operations of the phonographic locma'- naud for parlor purposes are to be conducted as follows: The seats of the two deaf and dumb persons must'be elevated in such a way that` both the operator and the auditor may have full 4view and command over the key and barS- of the locmanaud, which is placed between them upon a table, and the arm of each must be so supported by the table as to be free to move and act and rest while the conversation is going on.f The head and chest must be upright, dignified, natural, and slightly inclined forward. The left index-finger tip -must be always the one to receive sounds from` the orbicular, and the right index-tip the one always to receive the' key. An essential rule also to be observed is that the pulpy tips of the left index-finger and thumb shall be kept moist and clean, and that the nail shall never come in contact with the orbicular during the time of receiving sounds The surface-head of the orbicular must also be kept bright and clean, and the greatest care be taken in bring' ing the edge of the facial malleus directlyopposite the points of the bars, from which the phonic formula of all symbols proceed. Now,

let one of the deaf and dumb place the pulpy tip of his finger upon the orbicular and the other place his right index-tip under the key of the tympanum on the opposite side 5 then, drawing the facial edge ofthe malleus directly opposite the projecting point of the first bar on the left diatonic staff, and permitting the 4key e to suddenly slip from the fingertip, a characteristic sound is elicited. The mind is tutored to know that a more intense sound expresses a different set of letters, and, by placing the various orders before the deaf and initiating him into the various intensities and modes of dividing them by silent diatessarons, he soon learns, the principles and practices of the locmanaud. y A Y In parlor conversations, therefore, and pulwill suffice to explain thel whole operations of the locmanaud, exponents directing the number of sounds for each letter, and the diatessarons the complete formula of each letter, word, and sentence; God is love is thus ex- 5 4 3 3 5 4 4 pressed by sounds: l; O; l: O; lzn; O;

2 2 X; O. Referring to the tables of phonic formulas, it is found that five similar sounds are to be elicited, directly one after the other, from the second, bar on the left diatonic staff, and that, a silent semicolon being observed by the operator, the letter G has been enunciated; that foury dissimilar sounds are to be evoked lfrom the first bar, and the same silent stop respected, when theletter O will have been expressed; that. three sounds similar to the iirst, but dissimilar tothe second, areto be struck indicates that not onlyl the letter D has been sounded, but that this letter ends a word. Immediately after one,two,three has been counted the operator strikes off three more of the vowel o rder of sounds, and I is formed by sound; then five from the fourth bar, and the silent lcolon again indicates that not only is the latter S sounded, but that it completes a word. Having counted one, two, three, the operator at once strikes four sounds from the third bar, `and byl following it up, after counting one, two, by four sounds from the rst bar, demonstrates that the letter L not only has been expressed, but that it is a part of a word. rEhen follows two sounds from the fifth bar and two sounds the silent period, indicates that the sentence has been formed and completed.

Truth will prevail is thus written and In sending communications, however, and conversing with the distant-by means of a copper wire, the phonic formul of several letters differ, and they are placedV under different sympit communications,.the following examples from the second bar, and the silent colon now from the first bar, which, being followed by bols; but the form of the symbols corresponds with those used for preceding purposes, and

. the diatessarons are shaped by'seconds of time,

instead of counting numbers.

The following instance Aand example will explain the operation of transmitting sounds:. 8 1 2 3 1 8 7 8 l G 2 6 4 v 4 D,G,O= D, 0,0: Q, D,O,= G, O, O, 0:

The day star from Daarornvorovroyn' proclaimed.

The manner of sounding these symbols is as follows, the silent diatessarons being understood as-being diverted into written commas equal to two seconds of time by the watch, into colons equal to four seconds, and Iinto periods of six seconds of time, and into a diatessaron equal -to one second of time, never to be' used except in sounding and separating one symbol from another forming aletter: Thus, in sounding from the bar of the second incus the eight sounds of T one second of time by the watch separateseach, of the eight symbols from 'one e another, and thevsilent commas inishthat letter, and it will take nine (9) seconds of time to sound that letter and to begin the next. H 7 is then sounded, and expressed by one sound fromthebarl of the third incus, and occupies three (3) seconds of time to complete thatlet! ter and commence the next. E is then sounded, and expressed from the bar of the-first incus bytwo sounds, and occupies five seconds of time, denoting the completion of the word -Thcf The same rule applies to all'the various other letters, their symbols and sounds. .A diatessaron equal toten seconds would sufficiently indicate the completion of a sentence, and'on an average more than two'words per minute might be transmitted-across the ocean.

4 What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. -Tvvo phonographic locmanauds mounted by alcouglottic batteriesnames implying machines which generate intelligent sounds, which they communicate to the' spiritual sense of .hearing through the nervous papillae of the index-finger and thumb tips,4 and through the acoustic trumpet of the external ear, being the natural parts of the body which have direct relationship therewith, so Athat persons who are deaf and dumb and blind-arising eitherfrom physical defects or from length of dis-- tances-may hear and hold converse together by meansof these locmanauds and copper w'ires attached thereto. i

2. The method of evoking these intelligent sounds,` as herein described, using for that purpose the inci, the mallei, the phonic fossee, Y

the tympani, and keys.

3. The mode of intensifying and modifying sounds and chimes systematicallyby means of a right diatonic staff and a left diatonic sta, -or one single diatonic stati, as herein described,

' lusing for thatpurpose bars of wire projecting from the staff and placed at different distances from one another and from the facial incus, and striking `theffacial malleus upon the facial incus from the projecting points of these bars', and in this way evoking similar and dissimilar sounds. v v' v y 1 1.A .The method of assorting similar and dissimilar intensities of sounds under symbolic' formul representing the'various lettersV of the alphabet, Arabic notations, &c., ,and di- Vidingthem into certain divisions, each division of which represents a separate and distinct order of sound, as herein described, using for that purpose geometric, Arabic, and arithmetical figures, and also the mode of separat-v ing sounds Joy-silent diatessarons, givingforce and decided character to 'a phonic letter, or notation, or valuation.-

4' 5. The method of communicating sermons to a deaf and dumb audience by means of a radiating locmanaud', as herein described,using 

